BOSTON — The newly assembled New York Knicks faced a tough challenge in their season opener, going up against the reigning NBA champions, the Boston Celtics. Despite some major offseason acquisitions—including Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges—the Knicks struggled significantly, suffering a 132-109 defeat on the night the Celtics raised their championship banner.

With aspirations to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2000, the Knicks were quickly overwhelmed by the Celtics’ relentless offensive gameplay. Boston made an impressive 29 three-pointers, matching an NBA record for the most made in a single game. The Knicks found themselves on the back foot from the very start, failing to keep pace with Boston’s offensive firepower.

Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau acknowledged the team’s defensive shortcomings, emphasizing the pressure the Celtics placed on them. “Defensively, obviously, we’ve got to be a lot better than we were,” Thibodeau remarked. He pointed out that even when they managed to contest the initial shots, Boston frequently retrieved long rebounds and kept the pressure on.

In his debut as a Knicks player, Towns scored 12 points and pulled down seven rebounds, while Bridges, who was brought in to enhance New York’s defense against stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, contributed 16 points. However, the Knicks faced a daunting challenge early on, trailing by 19 points at the end of the first quarter, which swelled to a 26-point deficit heading into the final period.

Knicks guard Josh Hart shared his perspective on the game, noting, “They tied an NBA record in 3s. You have like three to four games a year where the team shoots the ball at an absurd clip, and sometimes there’s not much you can do about it.” New York’s shooting from beyond the arc was far less effective, managing only 11 successful attempts out of 30.

Hart praised the Celtics, acknowledging the occasion of their ring ceremony and how it galvanized their performance. He humorously suggested that, given Boston’s exceptional shooting, the league might need to conduct drug tests. “I’ve never ever seen nothing like that before,” he quipped, reflecting the surprise that surrounded the game.

The Knicks defensively struggled throughout the matchup, allowing multiple open shots for Boston’s perimeter players. The Celtics showcased superior ball movement, while New York frequently appeared out of sync. Knicks guard Jalen Brunson expressed the need for improvement, stating, “Personally, I’ve got to be better. We can dissect everything, or whatever, but they made a lot of 3s. We have to be better on both sides of the ball.”

As the Knicks regroup following this challenging opener, the focus remains on addressing their defensive lapses and finding a rhythm to compete effectively in the upcoming games.